In October the Scottish Government announced planning regulations would be used to "indefinitely" extend its 2015 moratorium on the shale gas drilling technique.

The decision came despite ministers' own research suggesting that fracking could create up to 3,100 jobs and bring investment of £6.5billion.

The SNP has previously backed the importation of fracked gas from the US in a deal designed to secure the future of Grangemouth refinery in Stirlingshire.

Grangemouth owner Ineos today announced it was seeking a judicial review of the "effective ban" on onshore unconventional oil and gas development at Scotland's highest civil court, the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

Tom Pickering, operations director of Ineos Shale, said: "The decision in October was a major blow to Scottish science and its engineering industry, as well as being financially costly to Ineos, other businesses and, indeed, the nation as a whole.

"We have serious concerns about the legitimacy of the ban and have therefore applied to the court to ask that it review the competency of the decision to introduce it."

Hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking, involves firing water at high pressure into rock, forcing it to crack and release gas.

Shale gas is processed at Grangemouth but shipped in from other countries where fracking can take place, including the United States.

Announcing the embargo last year Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse said an "overwhelming majority" of the 60,535 responses during a consultation were opposed to fracking.

He also insisted government research "does not provide a strong enough basis from which to address these communities' concerns".

But Mr Wheelhouse was accused of "ignoring" a 2014 report indicating fracking could be carried out "safely".

A KPMG study for the government also found 3,100 jobs and investment of £6.5billion could be created.

Green campaigners welcomed the ban claiming fracking could pollute water, generate greenhouse gases and even cause earthquakes.

But lodging a petition alongside partner Reach, Ineos argued there were "very serious errors" and a "failure to adhere to proper statutory process and a misuse of ministerial power".

The firm also said millions had been invested in getting licences to frack across 700 square miles of the Central Belt and planning permission had been "rendered worthless" by the ban.

The decision also closed the door on hopes for the estimated £1 billion to be received by local communities, it claimed.

Mr Pickering added: "If Scotland wants to continue to be considered as a serious place to do business, then it cannot simply remove the policy support that attracted that investment in the first place without proper procedures being followed and without the offer of appropriate financial compensation.

"In the light of these failings, Ineos has been left with no option other than to raise this legal challenge."

The move has been backed by a majority of MSPs, but the Scottish Conservatives argue it is "rooted in dogma" and "ignores the economic benefits".

Tory finance spokesman Murdo Fraser previous court battles over the SNP's Named Person scheme and alcohol minimum pricing.

He said: "This is another day in court for an SNP government which doesn’t think its policies through.

"That’s embarrassing for Scotland’s reputation, and exposes the amateurish attitude of the SNP on a range of issues."

Mr Wheelhouse said: "We have taken a careful and considered approach to arriving at our preferred policy on unconventional oil and gas in Scotland.

"The Scottish Government’s position was endorsed by the Scottish Parliament in October, subject to completion of a strategic environmental assessment, and follows detailed assessment of the evidence and consultation with the public."